Insights

AES Andes is a producer and distributor of electricity based in Santiago, Chile. The company is one of the region's leading generators, with a diversified portfolio that includes hydroelectric, wind, solar, energy storage, biomass, gas and coal plants.

The company is committed to decarbonization, with sustainability goals that include eliminating coal from its portfolio by 2025, achieving net zero carbon emissions from electricity sales by 2040 and net zero carbon emissions for its entire portfolio by 2050.

AES Andes was looking for a partner to help it minimise chemistry use and optimise productivity at its Andes Ventanas thermoelectric power plant in Puchuncaví, Chile.

Actions

The plant was experiencing problems with its boiler system cooling water, which was affecting reliability, water and energy use, and performance. The cause was acid phosphate corrosion (APC), which had led to a forced shutdown in one of the plant’s four generating units.

The corrosion was caused by cyclic loading conditions, or repeated fluctuations or stresses on structural components. This made it difficult to control pH and other chemistry variables in the cooling water.

Working with Nalco Water, Ecolab’s water and process management business, AES implemented 3D TRASAR™ Technology.

Through real-time monitoring and automated dispensing, 3D TRASAR improved chemistry management of the water-steam cycle to repair the system and help prevent future shutdowns.

Outcomes

As a result of these actions, the AES Andes Ventanas plant achieved substantial savings in energy, costs, maintenance and labour. 3D TRASAR Technology also led to significant reductions in CO₂ emissions as well as more efficient use of chemistry. The actions have proved to be a helpful step forward for AES Andes’ business and sustainability goals.